Authors : Ahmad Boran, Ali Shotar, Ahed Khatib, Mohammad Hamza, Mumen S. Hadidi and Virginia Rice
Abstract: Cotinine, major proximate metabolite of nicotine has been widely involved as highly specific and sensitive biomarker of exposure to tobacco and both active and secondhand tobacco smoke. To explore the biological role of the cotinine as a metabolite of nicotine among different types of smokers and to explore if cotinine level is affected by smoking related diseases as heart problems and other diseases as diabetes. This is a cross sectional study design. Study population included smokers in North of Jordan. The study sample included 400 participants visiting cardiac and diabetic clinics in King Abdulla University Teaching Hospital and Health Center. Different cafes in Irbid city were involved to collect samples from the apparently normal individuals. About 400 participants were involved in this study. About 40% of participants were smokers. About 95% of smokers were positive for cotinine. The following variables were associated significantly with cotinine: smoking status, smoking contact hours, smoking in sleeping place and smoking type. Last smoking time and inhaling of smoking were not associated significantly with cotinine (p<0.05). The following smoking related variables were significantly associated with cotinine level: last 30 days cigarette frequency, daily smoking cigarette in last month, regular smoking cigarette for at least once last month (p<0.05). While smoking cigarette years was not associated significantly with cotinine level (p>0.05). The following water pipe smoking variables were not associated significantly with cotinine level: last 30 days water pipe frequency, smoking water pipes years, years of smoking water pipes and cigarettes (p>0.05). On the other hand, regular smoking water pipe at least once in last month was associated significantly with cotinine level (p<0.05). Both of heart diseases and diabetes were not associated significantly with cotinine level (p>0.05). Cotinine is a sensitive biomarker to measure exposure to smoking.
Ahmad Boran, Ali Shotar, Ahed Khatib, Mohammad Hamza, Mumen S. Hadidi and Virginia Rice, 2010. Patterns of Cotinine Excretion among Diabetic, Cardiac Patients and Healthy Smokers in Jordan. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 5: 476-483.